Sharing Dutch articles

My native language is Dutch. I frequently write  in Dutch, not much but when I would like to share an article I prefer to do this separate on my yet new blog Neetser.blogspot.com

Mainly I’ll use this blog (FaithbasedWorks) for blogging.

Messianic communities a save haven?

Are the Messianic communities a save haven for people who run out their Christian Church?

I often saw many frustration by people who feel themselves decived by their church on facebook profiles and personal websites etc. Most of their arrows are directed at feasts with pagan roots as Christmas and anti-Israel/Judaism doctrines as replacement theology. FFOZ understands this problem and Boaz Michael wrote a good article about Pagan Roots of Christianity.

The many gentiles who came to be “Messianics” caused serious problems of a community which was born out of Messianic or Jesus-believing Jews. Those Jews were drawing more and more to Judaism since I guess it started in the 19th century. At that time they were converted to the church, but now they are an own community and especially in Israel they didn’t want to go to a church related community, but rather would keep Judaism as their own religion. But a denial of Jesus in the synagogue caused a new religion: Messianic Judaism. Originally it’s from etnic Jews.

Gentiles caused difficulties in it and a shift is going on. I wouldn’t say it’s wrong, but it is difficult. Some very good articles are spent on this topic by Derek Leman.

What is more important I think is that the Messianic movement addressed the church to rethink about many of their doctrines and customs whether they can sustain since there is a state of Israel and a visible hand of God drawing the etnic Jewish people to a certain destiny. More specific: the church has to learn from the Jews.

Cross or Crown

Baruch HaSjem! I got an answer. Cross or Crown, that was the question a lecturer opened with last monday evening. It’s both, he said, Cross and Crown. It’s one Glory, one Kaboth. It’s a golden coin he said, with two sides. Of course, not everything is said with that, but it gives some satisfaction. A Pastor and friend talked about the Return of Christ. He has some lectures online in Dutch.

The cross is a hidden glory. It only comes to life when it is revealed personally to the soul. The halacha (the way) of a Christian will teach that through the guidance of God. As happy as a Jew bring his offering (in ancient times) so happy a Christian will share in Yeshua’s or God’s offering. So happy he will bear the cross, and will turn him into great glory and salvation because it will draw him to righteousness, James1:12. As happy as a Jew would bear the Torah, so happy a true Christian would bear the cross.

The Crown of Glory however is also hidden but it is a future glory for the people on earth. The revelation of Jesus on earth is another thing than the revelation of the Messiah spiritually to the soul. This future glory is presented to the world (but not recognized) and to Israel as a special people of the covenant.

It is presented to the faithful as a steady hope and comfort. Paul said: “I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren” (1Thes.4:13) Paul is talking about things Jesus didn’t said yet. This was promised: “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth” (John16:13)

Paul was talking about the resurrection and alongside the glory of God will appear to all the people on earth. And he as a good familiar rabbi raised the concept of the well known horn: the haShofar haGadol. When that horn is blown, these things will happen. It can’t be secret, the lecturer said. It’s a global sound. Jews know the concept: when that shofar is blown, the Messiah will come. That’s the reason the lecturer didn’t believe in a “secret” pre-tribulation rapture. It can’t be secret. He doesn’t believe in a rapture. As I don’t, too. “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” (1Cor.15:52) We are all going to that moment unless we die before. When we reach that moment alive we’ll enter the Messianic  age even as the righteous ones who died for the sake of Jesus.

Ireneus in his time thaught already of the resurrection of the righteous. They shall “meet the Lord in the air” which also can be translated as to get the Lord. Then it would be as in the days of Ussiah: “and the Lord my God shall come, and all the saints with thee” (Zach.14:5)

Then the glory of the cross will be on earth.

A response to The Glory of the Cross

A very good friend of me responded by reading my post about the Glory of the Cross, with a letter to me in Dutch. He knows my thoughts more then anybody, and often give me advice as a wise older man. I’ll give his letter here translated.

Shekhinah is a noun derived from שכן (shachan, to reside, to dwell). It means the dwelling of God by His people Israel. At other places the word כבוד (Kaboth, glory) is used, the glory of the Lord. This dwelling or abode and glory was symbolized by a visible sign: the cloud above the atonement-cover of the ark. Gods throne is in heaven and His feet are on earth. (Is.66)

This visible sign of Gods presence was lost by the Jews when the temple was destroyed by the Chaldean in the year 587 BCE. We have to consider that thereafter Ezekiel must prophecies that the Lord again would be dwelling among His people. Ez.43:7 “this is the place of My throne, and the place of the soles of My feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel”. See also Ez.48:35 “And the name of the city from that day shall be, The LORD is there.” (יְהוָה שָׁמָּה)

The fulfillment of this is not as visible as it was at the first temple. The Shekhinah was lacking. But it was initially fulfilled when the Lord Jesus came into the temple (as an infant) in person. This short time was a preparation for a great event: the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The Lord Jesus talked clearly about the dwelling in the church (ecclesia) John16:7. In John 14:23 and 26 Jesus speaks about His Father and Himself, that they will come unto him (who loves Jesus) and will make abode with him.

So the Holy Spirit makes a personal abode, a place to live in His church in common and in each believer individual. “In whom ye also trusted , after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise” (Eph.1:13)

So God sealed the redeemer as well as the redeemed. “Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; Who hath also sealed us” (2Cor.1:21) “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption” (Eph.4:30) Our sealing is a true pledge, “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.” (Eph.1:13,14) “Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.” (2Cor.5:5)

This glorious residence is meant for the faithful on earth. The promises for the residence or abode of the Spirit in Israel also are meant for the Messianic era on earth, the time of national conversion of Israel. (Cite Ez.39:29)

For me personally it is a great pain and a deep grieve that the glory of Christ now on earth in such a way is opposed by the world, and also by the church. And as if it were not enough to diminish the crown of Christ nowadays, there are some theologians and ministers that minimizes the promises of the future glory on earth, too. And turn the scriptures to change their meaning. Although that the Father with an oath this glory promised to His beloved son. Although that the Holy Spirit so much prayers from so much people from so much centuries laid down in their heart, to pray faithfully for this Glory, pleading on the unfulfilled promises of the faithful covenant God.

It would be better to found a deep shame, that they’ll confess their guilt and will be looking for atonement by Christ, Who richly gives and doesn’t blame.

—

I hope I translated it properly. I you want the Dutch original ask me.